Field Marshal Montgomery Claim 2011 World Champions Title

15 August 2011

The World Pipe Band Championships returned once again to its heartland, on Glasgow Green Saturday 13th August 2011, where Premier endorsers Field Marshal Montgomery of Belfast, Northern Ireland, won the coveted 2011 title in convincing style. The weather was mostly dry, although generally heavily overcast, with the band delivering exceptional performances, continuing their well-deserved unbeaten run this season and claiming the best MSR drumming accolade along the way.

The Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band is Northern Ireland's premier Grade One pipe band. Current Scottish and British Champions, they were runners-up at last year's World Championships, and winners of the title in 2006 and 2007. The band has won over 40 major championship titles and has so far claimed the world title six times and in 20 years has never been out of the top six at a Grade One major championship, which makes for 99 consecutive major prize-winning performances going into the 2011 Worlds.

Defending 2010 World Champions and fellow Premier endorsers St. Laurence O’Toole from Dublin, claimed fifth place, with truly excellent performances that many were surprised had not placed the band higher, while Fife Constabulary were placed eighth, receiving much praise for their consistently great drumming.

Throughout the day, members of Field Marshal Montgomery, St Laurence O’Toole, Fife Constabulary, Peel Regional Police and Canterbury Caledonian Society pipe bands visited the Premier stand, with the full drum corps of Field Marshal, St Laurence and Peel Police entertaining crowds of fans with their world class drumming demonstrations.

The Premier stand this year showcased many of the finest pipe band drums in the world, including several HTS 800 side drums which displayed various examples from the new range of premium shell finishes alongside Premier’s legendary Diamond Chrome fittings. There were expert Premier staff on hand to answer questions and talk to visitors, with the day proving to be among the busiest and most successful World Pipe Band Championships so far.

The championship, which has been held in Glasgow for more than 60 years, drew more than 30,000 spectators from all over the world to see 230 pipe bands, and 8,000 of the very best pipers and drummers compete. With performances starting early in the morning, and Field Marshal Montgomery being announced as champions after more than 9 hours of fierce competition, the event ended with the amazing spectacle of the thousands of pipers and drummers who had been competing throughout the day taking part in a march past before the 2011 world champions were crowned.